The UFC's new owners have begun to make sweeping changes with a number of high-profile layoffs, including that of Chief Global Brand Officer Garry Cook

By Simon Head

19th October 2016, 1:42 am

Updated: 19th October 2016, 10:05 am

THE wind of change is beginning to blow through the UFC, with a number of high-profile departures and layoffs reported.

The latest of these sees two men familiar to longtime UFC fans here in the UK leaving their respective positions.

Pastures new: Former Manchester City CEO Garry Cook is one of a number of high-profile UFC releases

UFC Chief Global Brand Officer Garry Cook and Chief Content Officer Marshall Zelaznik have both now parted ways with the organisation, as two of the most instrumental figures in the growth of the UFC on this side of the pond bid farewell to the UFC.

Cook joined the UFC back in September 2012 as the organisation's Executive Vice President and General Manager for Europe, Middle East and Africa, working out of the UFC's London office.

His successes in London would later see him move to Las Vegas to take on the role of the UFC's Chief Global Brand Officer.

Driving force: Garry Cook spearheaded the UFC's continued growth in the UK

SunSport received a statement from Cook on Tuesday night explaining the UFC had agreed to release him from his duties.

Cook said: "This has been a magnificent experience with one of the greatest sports enterprises of the modern day.

"I am thankful and proud to have played a part in their brand story working with Lorenzo Fertitta, Dana White, Lawrence Epstein and all the talented individuals at the UFC.

"With the new leadership from WME-IMG the next era of continuing to redefine the global sports landscape is very exciting.

"I wish them well delivering on their vision for success."

Garry Cook described his time with the UFC as 'a magnificent experience'

We chatted to Cook as recently as UFC 204 in Manchester, where he explained his pride at seeing a huge pay-per-view show in what used to be his home town.

And he also said it was only a matter of time before the UFC's international business overtook its US business as the brand and the sport of mixed martial arts continues to grow across the globe.

Garry Cook told SunSport he expects the UFC to become even bigger as it continues to expand globally

“I have said on numerous occasions that eventually the overseas business will be bigger than the US business, which is the epicentre of where it all started," he explained.

“But then I was the guy that said Manchester City would be one of the greatest football clubs in the world.

“That’s yet to be determined, but it’s all part of having that vision, having that passion, commitment and knowing that you can get there and figuring out how to get there.

“I think the UFC’s on a pretty good track.”

And he said the mystique of the UFC and its athletes rubs off not only on millions of fans across the world, but also the world's sports stars including athletes from the Premier League and the NFL.

“When I was at Manchester City, footballers wanted to be MMA fighters. NFL players want to be MMA fighters, but they just know there’s a very different level," he explained.

“And I’ve always said that MMA fighting is sort of above all else in the athlete world. So the insight was very simple.

“You have to follow where you think the opportunities are in the world and this sport has changed the landscape of sport forever.”

Zelaznik was one of Cook's predecessors, as the man who helped set up and establish the UFC's London office before eventually moving back to the US to take up a leading role in the setup of UFC Fight Pass. At the time of his release he was the UFC's Chief Content Officer.

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